Normal breaths per minute
- Thread starter RR14
- Start date
I actually compiled a database of respiration rates of fishes going back to around 1985. After literally thousands of data entries, I determined that while fish size and relative stress levels certainly influence respiration rates, temperature of course does as well. Ultimately, the best thing to do is to get baseline rates on your fish, so you'll know what normal is if they then get sick. Here is an excerpt from my Advanced Marine Aquarium Techniques book on the subject:
Respiration rates: Aquarists are always warned about rapid breathing in their fish as a symptom of potential problems, yet few know just what “rapid†is. Obviously, fish kept in warmer water or those with gill diseases will respire more rapidly. Less obvious is that larger fish respire more slowly and in some cases, high ammonia levels will cause a fish to respire slower. While there is some difference between species, (Chinese algae eaters will breath twice as fast as any other fish their size) most tropical fish of the size kept in home aquariums should breath at a rate of between 80 and 140 gill beats per minute. Pomacanthid angelfish are sometimes known to breathe using only one operculum. They can switch back and forth, and then return to breathing with both opercula, all for no discernable reason. Emperor angelfish, Pomacanthus imperator and moray eels are well known “skip breathersâ€Â. It is often helpful to record the baseline respiration rates of your fish â€"œ at a point when you know they are free of stress and healthy. This data can then be used as a reference to check the fish for changes in their health (Copyright 2006 TFH).
Jay
Respiration rates: Aquarists are always warned about rapid breathing in their fish as a symptom of potential problems, yet few know just what “rapid†is. Obviously, fish kept in warmer water or those with gill diseases will respire more rapidly. Less obvious is that larger fish respire more slowly and in some cases, high ammonia levels will cause a fish to respire slower. While there is some difference between species, (Chinese algae eaters will breath twice as fast as any other fish their size) most tropical fish of the size kept in home aquariums should breath at a rate of between 80 and 140 gill beats per minute. Pomacanthid angelfish are sometimes known to breathe using only one operculum. They can switch back and forth, and then return to breathing with both opercula, all for no discernable reason. Emperor angelfish, Pomacanthus imperator and moray eels are well known “skip breathersâ€Â. It is often helpful to record the baseline respiration rates of your fish â€"œ at a point when you know they are free of stress and healthy. This data can then be used as a reference to check the fish for changes in their health (Copyright 2006 TFH).
Jay
That information is very helpful.Similar threads
